City of Cortez

Located eight miles from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park, many consider Cortez the cultural center of Mesa Verde Country.

With more than 600 acres of parks, trails, and open space there's plenty of room to play. To the north, you’ll find Carpenter Natural Area with 176 acres and easy access to trails. To the south, enjoy the 122 acre Hawkins Preserve where you can hike, bike, rock climb and star-gaze from the slick rock trails to the canyon edge overlooking McElmo Creek. There are even excavated archaeological sites in the preserve.